(COMPLETED) The Lunar Chronicles - Winter's Summer

Part 9

Iko brightened at the sound of the little bell by the door. She fixed her customer smile on her face and turned to face whoever had just walked through the door, then immediately slouched back down.

"Oh. Jacin."

Jacin snorted at her greeting, barely amused. He walked through the store, coming to stand behind the counter with Iko. He dropped his bag beside the ID chip scanner and leaned against the back wall.

"Don't act like me coming home isn't the high point of your day."

Iko rolled her eyes. True to his word, it was a little boring around the shop when there were no customers. But there was no way she would be admitting that to him.

She changed the subject.

"How was school today?" She said, playing with the ends of her blue hair. Hmm. Maybe it was time for a change. A new colour, or style.

"Fine. I have an exam next week on plague effects on children vs. adults, so I should probably go study."

"Maybe. Or, we could play a game. It's called 'Help Iko Hang Up Dresses'."

Jacin tilted his head quizzically, looking at her leg. "Is it acting up again?"

Iko sighed. She placed her hands in her lap and stared at her right leg, trying to move it with the power of her mind. She huffed, frustrated.

"I haven't been able to walk all day."

"Where did you put your cane?"

She waved her hand, disinterested. "Oh, it's somewhere in the back. Around eleven I decided that I would be able to make it through the day without it, and this chair is as far as I got. Thank the stars that there hasn't been any customers," she said, as Jacin went into the storage room behind the counter to find Iko's cane. He returned with it after only a few moments.

"Thank you," she said, trying to gain her footing. She stumbled, all feeling gone from her body, and fell into Jacin, the cane clattering to the floor. He caught her by the shoulders, guiding her dead weight back to her chair before stooping to retrieve her cane.

"What just happened?" That had never happened before. Iko had had her legs or arms go out before, but that time... it was like all of her wires fizzled out at once. She'd lost control of all of her limbs.

"I don't know," Jacin said, still holding her by her shoulders to steady her in case she fell again.

She could tell he wanted to try to help, but he was studying medicine, not mechanics. He was useless in this field. "I know you hate when I ask this," he started, and Iko knew immediately where he was going with this.

"No! I will not call Cinder."

"Why not? She's a great mechanic, and your best friend. She'll want to help."

"No. If I call Cinder, then she'll come down here."

"And why is that a bad thing?"

"I just don't want her to worry."

Jacin nodded, but Iko could tell that he didn't understand. Calling Cinder meant that she could get help. But Iko didn't want her help. She didn't want another reminder about how robot she was, even if it was the truth.

Jacin sighed. "I'll do one rack," he said begrudgingly.

Iko beamed at him. "Have I mentioned lately that you are the best?"

"No."

"In that case, you are the best. Happy?"

"Ecstatic."